Can someone school me on cafe racers? (possible winter project)

[bump909]

I'm possibly looking for a somewhat cheap and easy project over the winter. I love the idea of cafe racers but really don't know much about them, all I know is that the idea of a mean, ratty little cafe racer is pretty friggin' cool. I've been told British bikes are the way to go, but that would probably be too expensive for me to consider. Are Honda CB's the way to go? What about Suzuki GS's.. maybe stick an old GSXR motor in there?

Any info or experiences?


a few examples..

[OreoGaborio]

Don't be a puss.. get the Ducati Sport Classic Sport 1000


http://www.webbikeworld.com/ducati-m...sport-1000.htm

[bump909]

that is neither cheap nor a project, beyatch!

how the hell can you be a member of cheap bastid racing and tell me to buy a brand new duc?

[benVFR]

Any Jap bike you make into a cafe racer is going to be 1000x cooler then the new Duc cafe racers in my book because you did it yourself and it will be unique.

I am digging the Yellow Honda you posted a picture of. The other honda is not as cool cause it's closer to stock, and both the other bikes don't have that sweet subframe.

One reason why I think the Japanese one would be cooler is they seem much more rare, there are lots more Britbikes that look like that.

Also a H-D done up this way is very cool as there are not many of them and they go completely against the obnoxious path most H-D owners & the H-D factory have gone down. Homemade XR750 replica = coolness.

[Rory McConoghy]

im not at home and dont have the links on this machine, but search cafe bike also.

one of my friends lived in mission hill and built his cafe bike from an old TX(i think) 650. he did it all in his apartment and outside. then he moved to virginia.

older japanese bikes work, but if you really want the true look and feel you'll have to dish out some dough for a triumph or norton.

ive always wanted a triton(triumph motor with a norton featherlite frame) but it would cost an arm and a leg now. and building one would probably drive me to murder.

[bump909]

ben - yeah, i'm really liking the first one too. i actually want mine to look a little rattier.. like flat black paint, no bling, but not an actual POS of course. i think the HD idea would be cool too. a benefit to that is that my friend who lives above me is a big HD guy and could help out a lot. that may still be a little too expensive though.

rory- was it an xs650? i hear those are great cafe bikes too. i'd probably be doing a lot of this outside or in a garage or basement as well. i'm really leaning towards a cb750 right now due to cost and availability of parts. although i'm mechanically inclined, i wouldn't consider myself a knowledgable mechanic. so the more i think about it.. a brit bike might be out of the question, at least for my first project. plus like you said, the cost would probably be too much for my budget.

[brewmaster]

I love the old Snortin Norton's (Commando 850), but like you said $$$$ for a decent one let along finding parts.

How about older Duc monsters? Pre FI models are getting pretty cheap nowday's and tons of parts are around. Not to mention they actually handle pretty good if you tweekem' a little.

Of course an old Bevel Duc is one of the orginal cafe racers!

[Rory McConoghy]

Originally posted by bump909


rory- was it an xs650? i hear those are great cafe bikes too. i'd probably be doing a lot of this outside or in a garage or basement as well. i'm really leaning towards a cb750 right now due to cost and availability of parts. although i'm mechanically inclined, i wouldn't consider myself a knowledgable mechanic. so the more i think about it.. a brit bike might be out of the question, at least for my first project. plus like you said, the cost would probably be too much for my budget.

yeah it might have been an xs. he paid like 700 for it and didnt put that much more into it. but once i get home i will check my machine for the links. there was some place in california, i think, that sold old style racing seats and tanks for replica cafe bikes. but the last time i checked that stuff was probably two years ago.

i just bought an r6, but ive always wanted an older styled cafe bike. i might get something in the spring to start wrenching on. and no matter what type of bike its gonna be british racing green.

[Rory McConoghy]

i could find any of the links on my current hard drive lastnight. i'll slave my other one tonight or tomorrow morning and get the links. and i spoke with my friend last night and it was an xs.

one of my other friends roomates is building a triumph cafe'd out. i cant wait to see it it all done up.

[Stoneman]

Talk to Mick about this. He's the king of zombie bikes...

[xxdcmast]

Dont know if its still available or not but this could be a good start for you

http://boston.craigslist.org/mcy/121353945.html

Also if you really want I have a 1982 kawasaki kx440 that you could have for real cheap like 20 bucks or a case of corona. Its not pretty but if your gonna chop it why not. I have a buch of misc other parts from different bikes you could take if you wanted too.

[bump909]

xxdcmast - dude, thank you! you are the man! i just sent him an email. about the kwak.. is it a kx or kz? either way if things don't work out i'd probably be interested.

[bump909]

stoner - what's mick's username? i might be badgering him at some point.

[xxdcmast]

My bad kz 440. kx is the dirtbike line. If you want the KZ its yours I also have a frame, wheels, tank, and engine block from an old school elsinore 250. I was actually gonna try making a home built chopper myself but didnt have the tools mainly a welder.

[Tabby]

Gee, guys. What about all those wonderful fours from the late 70's and early 80's. GS's, KZ's, Secas, CBF Hondas. Think electronic ignitions, frames with some semblance of rigidity, indestructable engines, etc. After you are done setting one up, you can actually ride them all day long. Cafe'd UJM's will always have a warm spot in my heart.

[bump909]

ok cool, i'd just be concerned with how easy the project would be with the kz440. the xs650 or cb750 are the most ideal japanese bikes to convert into cafe racers from what i've read. anyways, i'll definitely let you know.

[bump909]

tabby, there's no bike entirely out of the question for me at this point.. i'm basing a lot of what i'm looking for off of what i've seen done already, cheap, and parts readily available.

i really have no motor preference.. a twin would be cool, but if i could have my cake and eat it too, i'd want my cafe bike to have a good amount of power. the idea of stuffing a gsx-r motor into an older GS sounds pretty fun, but might not be that cheap.

what does UJM mean? something japanese market?

[benVFR]

UJM = Universal Japanese Motorcycle

It is somewhat of a negative term now but it means I-4 standard, no fairing or just a little, nice upright riding position.

Basically what the Big 4 were making before they started making all out sportbikes and cruisers. They were a "just right" streetbike that was not pushed to either extreme.

[Tabby]

Boy, are you going to have some fun. I guess it comes down to two things, your budget, and your imagination!

[Hardcore]

I have/selling a '79 or '80 kawa ltd 1000 w/race air filters + full kerker exhaust that I was restoring for a friend until he lost interest--complete bike + runs--i'm just trying to get the $200. i put into it back--don't know if this helps?

[trackdog]

Just want to say good luck....great idea...and I hope you find and eventually get to run just the machine your looking for...

[audiojeff]

There's a locally based "homemade" cafe bike website, http://vonblonde.com/index.html , that has hosted a bike show in Northbridge, MA a couple of years running now. It seems the most popular platforms are '70s vintage CB750s. The bike most seem to be emulating is the late '60 Honda CR450. A few websites offer bolt-on/custom modded parts for the CB. www.cb750cafe.com is likely to be a good place to start. They offer custom seat and guage kits. Ohiocaferacers.com bulids a large number of suspension parts and adaptors used in the conversion of CB350 and CB400 chassis. They may be offering tanks soon as well. Good luck, wishing I had the patience and opportunity to give it a go myself.
One more link, the International Cafe Racer BBS, http://www.scooterbbs.com/cgi-bin/bo...conf=DCConfID8

Jeff

[TheIglu]

Originally posted by hardcore
I have/selling a '79 or '80 kawa ltd 1000 w/race air filters + full kerker exhaust that I was restoring for a friend until he lost interest--complete bike + runs--i'm just trying to get the $200. i put into it back--don't know if this helps?

Got any pics? I can never have enough UJM's

[Hardcore]

Originally posted by TheIglu
Got any pics? I can never have enough UJM's

yes + no !

I got pics but i'm not able to post them!

pm me if interested-I can snail mail em

[zombie]

if you want to build a fairly cheap and cool cafe racer you may want to consider an SR500 yamaha single
produced from 78-81 and are cheap and reliable and dead easy to do some cool remodeling too


http://www.siue.edu/~rsutton/SR/rtfront98.jpg